Girls' Class C Sectional and State History and Preview, Part I

Posted Thursday, October 30, 2008 by Perry King

For the last four years, roughly the same group of schools have battled through the regular season and on toward the all-important Sectional meet in their area to determine which team and which 12 runners will represent their section in the New York Class C State Championship race for the boys and girls. A few schools like Greenwich and Irvington have moved to or from Class C and B or D during those years, but there has been a fair amount of stability during the period both in the pool of schools and even the teams that have represented many of the 11 sections. This preview provides a brief synopsis of the past 4-5 years for which results are easily available and gives a semi-deep preview of how the Sectional and State competition is shaping up, especially in regards to the Dobbs Ferry Eagles and Section I.

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The Bronxville Broncos have a long and stellar history in girls' XC going back three decades and many State Championships and top NYS runners. A Class D team for much of the time, when the Broncos were moved to Class C in 2004 they instantly made Section I a powerhouse in the class. Bronxville won the State C title in 2004 and 2005 before its current nemesis in recent years, Greenwich Witches (yes, that is their nickname) moved up to Class C for a brief two year stay and won successive titles over the 2nd place Broncos. Interestingly, the battle between the two teams first took shape back in 2003, when as a Class D team the Broncos finished 3rd behind an Argyle team that featured 4 top-10 finishing 8th-graders named Emily and Ashley Fung, Caitlin Lane, and Hannah Davidson. The Fungs and Lane would go on to run for Class C\D Greenwich , while Davidson would go to Class AA Saratoga Springs, and the quartet would be storied NYS runners through last year.

With the Broncos dominating Section I behind such runners as Amanda and Caitlin Hudson, Tori Flannery, and Emma Clarke, the rest of the teams have been just fighting for the 2nd spot and to send some top runners to the States. Croton Harmon's Sophia Spring was the top standout among the non-Broncos with three top 10 finishes from 2004-2006, Hastings' Molly Burke also excelled as the 1-C champion in 2004. The strong group of Section I runners earning berths in the States has helped it to win 3 of 4 State Class C Section championships while backing up the Bronco runners.

Dobbs Ferry has never finished higher than 5th among the 1-C teams, but it has sent two runners to the States, with Carrie Hickey going first in the team's first year back in business in 2004 and Paulina Nunez going in 2006. With their group of young middle schoolers developing over the last two years, the Eagles are looking for more high places.

State Championship Class C Teams Results

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

1

Greenwich (II)

20

Greenwich (II)

29

Bronxville (I)

29

Bronxville (I)

58

Skanateales (III)

53

2

Bronxville (I)

56

Bronxville (I)

46

Sauquoit Valley (III)

61

Greenwich (II)

71

Saranac Lake (X)

83

3

Tully (III)

101

Skanateales (III)

124

Sullivan West (IX)

99

Canastota (III)

95

Bayport-Blue Point (XI)

97

4

Newark Valley (IV)

119

Rhinebeck (IX)

128

Akron (VI)

125

Thomas A. Edison (IV)

108

Chatham (II)

104

5

Tri Valley (IX)

149

Newark Valley (IV)

143

Newark Valley (IV)

149

Rhinebeck (IX)

110

Sullivan West (IX)

119

6

Akron (VI)

166

Attica (V)

176

Voorheesville

(II)

167

Attica (V)

112

Attica (V)

164

7

Norwood-Norfolk (X)

188

Friends Acad. (VIII)

192

Attica (V)

198

Akron (VI)

137

Lansing (IV)

167

8

Saranac Lake (X)

196

Franklinville (VI)

197

Friends Acad. (VIII)

219

Hampton Bays (XI)

239

Newfane (VI)

200

9

Dansville (V)

212

Saranac Lake (X)

198

Hampton Bays (XI)

225

Potsdam (X)

272

Carle Place (VIII)

246

10

Hampton Bays (XI)

302

Mattituck (XI)

291

Potsdam (X)

235

Carle Place (VIII)

286

Albertus Magnus (I)

257

11

E. Rockaway (VIII)

318

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Ausable Valley (VII)

240

Ticonderoga (VII)

298

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State Championship Class C Section Results

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

1

II

147

I

180

I

177

I

241

III

181

2

I

220

II

232

III

204

III

250

VII

438

3

III

304

III

321

IX

396

II

360

IV

458

4

IX

482

IX

479

V

487

IX

398

II

466

5

IV

556

V

522

IV

490

IV

404

V

519

6

VI

576

IV

599

II

503

V

461

IX

560

7

V

638

VI

649

VI

506

VI

517

VI

594

8

X

704

VIII

673

XI

747

XI

830

XI

595

9

VII

850

VII

846

X

827

X

979

I

724

10

VIII

993

XI

951

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VII

987

VIII

763

11

XI

1100

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Team Breakdown -- Section I

The following tables provide a summary of how the teams match up starting with Section I and then reviewing the top State teams among the other sections. The order is based on the Team Strength Score (TSS), the average of a team's top 5 runners' seasonlong Tully Speed Ratings

The Wrap: Broncos again dominate Section 1 and top runner Caitlin Hudson should win Sectional championship and battle for spot in top 5 in States. The huge emergence of 8th graders Phillips and Rizzo has offset the down years for Flannery and Miers. Broncos’ depth makes them possible favorites for State title against Rhinebeck and Tully.